If there's one beloved holiday tradition, that officially starts the festivities around the town, it's the Vancouver Christmas Market. Inspired by European Christmas markets but with more North American flair, it includes almost 100 pop-up shops with authentic sweets, home-made toys and other treasures. It's a perfect place for enjoying your time with friends, grabbing a Christmas-inspired bite or hunting down unique presents.

Attractions

Besides enjoying the atmosphere of the Old World Christmas, you can visit the Christmas Pyramid with the Flying Stage on the second storey, catch one of many performaces both during the day and the night, or visit the beautiful towering walk-in Christmas tree. Kids can catch a ride on the Christmas Carousel or meet Santa from 5 pm on the weekday and 3:30 pm on weekends.

Food & Drinks

When it comes to eating on Vancouver Christmas Market, you will find many German-inspired street vendors across the area and German lager being poured in the establishments. And if you feel like you need to just sit down and have some gourman drinks with your visit, you can book an hour-long visit into a Wunderbar. This new attraction for 2018 promises artisanal drinks or hot “Feuerzangenbowle” - a muled wine with rum-soaked sugarloaf.

Shops

If you love traditional gifts, like home-made soaps and wooden toys, Christmas market is the perfect place for your Holiday shopping. The 80+ huts in the market include everything from beautiful traditional ornaments for your Christmas tree, to home-made wool hats and mittens.

Perfect photo spots

To fill in your Instagram feed with a bit of festive cheer, there are many corners that will make for the perfect photo background. You can visit the Lover's Lane, with love lock around and snap that kiss under the mistletoe, find the Winter Deck and have a perfectly framed picture with the perfect view of the North Shore or simply focus on many of the amazing lights twinkling around.

Vancouver Christmas Market is located at Jack Poole Plata, 1055 Canada Place. Opened daily from November 21 to December 23, 11:30 am - 9:30 pm. On December 24 from 11:30 to 6 pm. Standard ticket on the spot is $12. More information can be found at vancouverchristmasmarket.com.

Meet The Photographer: Ricardo Vacas

Ricardo Vacas

Ricardo Vacas, owner of the firm Kerp Photography, always showed intense interest in many forms of creative arts. His professional photography career started in his home country, Spain, where he was the official photographer of several music bands, models and clothing brands. He decided to move to Wellington, New Zealand in 2012, knowing his real interest was fashion photography more than any other field. Currently living in Vancouver, Canada, he now combines his fashion, editorial and commercial photography projects with regular trips to Europe and USA.

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